Two-Building Burbank Development Scheduled to Break Ground in 2020

The Premier on First would include residential units, retail and either a hotel or office space.

The City of Burbank has begun circulating a draft environmental impact report for the Premier on First, a proposed mixed-use development that would bring new residents, retail space, and poentially office space or a hotel to the city's downtown.

The project is slated for a roughly 1.8-acre site at the corner of 1st Street and Verdugo Avenue, which is currently improved with a two-story commercial building and an adjoining surface parking lot. Property owner Cusumano Real Estate Group proposes to demolish these existing uses, which would allow for the construction of two buildings up to 14 stories in height.

The developer is considering a two-phase project, which would move forward under one of two alternatives.

Phase I

Both concepts would begin with the construction of a 14-story, 164-foot tall apartment tower which would feature 154 dwelling units and nearly 10,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Plans call for 11 levels of residential uses above a podium structure featuring a parking garage, a swimming pool and other amenities. Additional open space would be provided on a series of terrace levels.

Phase II

A second phase of the project would yield a similarly scaled tower, providing either a hotel or commercial offices.

If built as a hotel, the proposed building would rise to a 13-story, 159-foot architectural peak and feature 230 guest rooms above 5,900 square feet of restaurant space and amenities.

Daniel Chudnovsky, A.I.A. Architects is designing the mixed-use complex, which is portrayed in renderings with two modern buildings wrapped in glass and other high-quality finishes.

Should the City of Burbank grant approval to the project, the initial phase of the Premier of First is expected to break ground in mid-2018 and open by late 2019. The second phase would begin construction afterwards, with an anticipated start date in early 2020 followed by completion in 2022.